Inspectors step in as scalpers mark up tickets for Taylor Swift Melbourne concerts by more than 400%

Taylor Swift fans are being warned about buying resale tickets for the singing star’s upcoming sold-out concerts at the MCG - with ticket scalpers and resellers reported to be offering tickets at 483% above their original face value.

Set to be held on 16th, 17th and 18th February, inspectors from Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) enforcing the state’s Major Events Act 2009, are understood to have halted the illegal sale of more than 1,000 seats for the shows.

As reported by Melbourne’s The Herald Sun, tickets for Swift’s The Eras Tour dates that originally retailed at $379 were being listed for $2,210, $2,065 and $1,860 each on resale platforms.

The Herald Sun revealed that 481 tickets for Swift’s 17th February and 231 tickets for the 18th February show were removed from secondary sites.

In total, at least 1090 ticket listings have been detected by CAV inspectors since tickets first went on sale in late June and removed from websites such as Gumtree, eBay, Ticombo and Stubhub.

The Major Events Act 2009 makes selling tickets to major events for more than 10% over the face value illegal in Victoria with fines as high as $576,930 apply for companies that breach the law and individuals can be fined up to $962.

The Eras Tour dates were marked as major events by the Victorian Government in June last year, to help combat against ticket scalpers.

Victorian Minister for Major Events Steve Dimopoulos warned people against buying tickets for inflated prices online as they could be voided due to their illegal mark-up or sold several times by scalpers, leaving heartbroken fans locked out an broke.

Minister Dimopoulos advised that “event organisers will only accept authorised tickets on the night.

“If you try and get your Taylor Swift tickets through an unauthorised seller, you risk having a ticket that’s not accepted at the door.”

After her concerts at the MCG, Swift will then perform four shows at Sydney’s Accor Stadium on 23rd, 24th, 25th and 26th February.

Over four million attempted to purchase tickets when they originally went on sale, according to Ticketek.

Last month, it was revealed that the Eras Tour had been confirmed as the highest-grossing music tour ever by the Guinness Book of World Records.

The tour became the first to surpass US$1 billion in revenue.

As of today, no tickets for Swift’s Melbourne concerts can be found on Gumtree, eBay or Viagogo.

Image credit: Shutterstock.